JMU Helps Report

James Madison University/Higher Education Supports Literacy JMU HELPS Report April 2005

JMU HELPS was established with a grant from RR Donnelley to increase literacy, learning and familiarize Harrisonburg high school students and their families with JMU through interaction with it’s professors and student’s.

Original Objectives:

JMU HELPS was very successful in creating a beneficial learning environment between Harrisonburg High School Project Achieve students and James Madison University secondary education students using traditional and computer based learning strategies. JMU and its professors, Prof. Tamara Jetton, Cheryl Beverly, Oris Griffin and Irene Reynolds provided coordination and support to Cathy Soenksen, Harrisonburg High School English Teacher and Coordinator of Project Achieve.

From 2001 to 2003, between 32-45 Project Achieve students were paired each semester (Fall and Spring) with JMU student Book Buddies for an approximate total of 360 students served. Also, at the end of every semester, to commensurate the successful completion of a Book Buddies experience, a Celebration was held and parents, teachers, JMU and Project Achieve students, supporting organizations and coordinators and representatives from RR. Donnelley were encouraged to attend. Incentives for family attendance were Valley Mall Certificates( $25.00) and movie passes. The Project Achieve high school students were responsible for organizing the event to include: shopping, planning, speech writing and invitation design.

Project Achieve students come from a diverse community with Harrisonburg. One-third of these students have ESL issues, 1/3 has special education issues and 1/3 is low-end readers. Most have a combination of problems contributing to their low reading levels. Also, the students and their families’ computer literacy levels are low. Book Buddies provided the Project Achieve students with an authentic reading, writing and computer experience. The reading, writing and computer technical skills of the Project Achieve students were significantly improved through JMU HELPS as were their social, interpersonal and communication skills.

The JMU students involved in Book Buddies were undergraduate pre-service teachers in their junior year of college. They received a rewarding and direct applied learning experience. They learned first-hand the struggles and diverse literacy needs of at-risk and ESL students in public schools as well as how to successfully incorporate literacy instruction through technology.

The Book Buddy project was designed to be a computer based book discussion on an approved and agreed upon book chosen by the high school student. Through weekly email exchanges, the two book buddies began a correspondence not only on the characters, plot, words and ideas presented in the story, but also on how the story related to their own life experiences. This communication provided a stepping stone into each other’s lives to include demystifying the college experience and college students for the Project Achieve students. Conversations also discussed events, trips, schoolwork as well as the storyline of the book. For some of the participating students, the friendships lasted beyond the scope of the Book Buddy semester. More than one tour of JMU campus was organized and requested by the Project Achieve students. Also, where possible, JMU students were paired with an appropriate Project Achieve student. For example, a Russian education student was paired with a Russian Project Achieve student.

JMU HELPS Book Buddy project fostered a unique collaboration, communication and learning environment for the students and their families. Through partnering with the Harrisonburg Boys and Girls Club and the Student Service Center, organizers raised community awareness of the activities and helped and assisted with parental involvement. Parents and siblings attended the end of the semester Celebration. Four dinners were held to facilitate discussion of a Parent/Resource Center and a Parent leadership team.

Because many of the HELPS families are those where attendance and follow-through is an issue at school, involvement of the Attendance and Family Liaison Administrator has been described as “invaluable”. With the help of the Attendance and Family Liaison Administrator, the drop out rate at Harrisonburg high school of the Project Achieve students dropped from 6.7 percent to 1.6 percent.

RR Donnelley’s donation had significant outreach success to the community with significant gains for all involved. A story in the Daily News Record on December 11, 2003, captured Donnelley’s involvement with the project. In addition, participation was encouraged from Donnelley in the celebrations and dinners. Donnelley also donated journaling books with the Harrisonburg High School logo that were handed out and utilized by the students.

All key participants categorized JMU HELPS as a success and were willing to commit to carrying out another Book Buddies program in the Fall 2005. Dr. Jetton would have the secondary education class to provide JMU students and mentioned that there was still money left in the Verizon grant for one more buy-out ($3000.00). Cathy Soenksen would be the Project Achieve Coordinator and has a tentative book list and has researched a cost-effective book purchase for the high school students.

Book Buddies Recommendations

Parent Resource Center and Parental Involvement of JMH HELPS Families

Because of significant logistical problems and other variables, the long term and continued involvement of families has been an effort for all involved.æfrom the families to the providers and coordinators of this program There was an intensive effort to get parents involved in a parent/student book club, parental liaison for the resource center, etc. All key coordinators sited that there were too many logistic problems for parents to stay engaged in school-based activities. Problems included: childcare, second jobs, night shift, their own ESL issues. Because of this, objectives to involve families were not as successful as the Book Buddy Program.

Parents often expressed the desire to be involved, as best they can, and many suggested outreach-guides/brochures-bilingual for parents on how they can help/connect/encourage their children. Another suggestion included starting with a discussion group on a magazine article as getting parents to commit to a book maybe daunting for them.

The objective for a Parent Resource Center was discussed. There were materials bought that were put in the truancy officers office. Feedback from the high school was the materials were not age-level appropriate. Consequently, they were not utilized. Cathy Soenksen felt that a Parent Resource Center would be a replication of services at the Student Service Center and Boys and Girls Club. She felt that it was not a resource that is needed and may not be utilized. She sited staffing issues and the logistic problems of parents being able to utilize it. There does seem to be a need, in a central location (one-stop shopping) for outreach services as recommend by parents and students. More research needs to be compiled on current services available and how and if they are utilized within the community.

It is and has been identified as important to tie community and parents to student learning. When parents are involved the student performs better. Parents that were involved with JMU HELPS had positive memories about being involved and it built confidence in themselves and their children. Parents need tools to know and understand how to be supportive if they cannot be directly at the high school.

Recommendations from Students for Family/Parent Resource Center

Recommendations from Parents for Family/Parent Resource Center

General Recommendations for JMU HELPS projects/outreach:

Based on the success of the past Book Buddies experience, all participants are eager and willing to do a Book Buddies Program in the Fall 2005. Efforts to coordinate this need to be discussed and planned for in the Summer 2005 to include purchasing books, public awareness campaigns, and to facilitate key involvement of all involved with this project.

Additional research regarding the feasibility of The Family/Parent Resource Center and/or the Literacy Center would need to be carried out. Both parents and students have identified needs and services that they would like meet. It needs to be determined whether they need information on where to find these services within the community or whether a resource center to addresses these needs and services should be developed.

There are also many outreach activities that can be discussed, researched, investigate cost, etc. Also, new grants like those available at the Annenberg Foundation as well as approaching RR Donnelley can be reviewed to support outreach projects.

If you have any feedback, inquiries or would like to know more about the program, please contact:

Margaret Buse
JMU HELPS
540-568-8050
busems@jmu.edu


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